Lao Veterinary Students Ace their Final Examinations!

In the middle of September, 4th and 5th year students were getting ready for their last round of Animal Health Monitoring. This last round was also to be their final evaluation, as this activity has been integrated in their curriculum.Sisavath, Chantha, Dethaloun, Khao, Amphone and Bounthang, who are all teachers, also got ready for the evaluation by expanding the planning, deciding on evaluation criteria and practicing with the evaluation form. Dr. Maude Pauly joined the team to add some more samples to her survey on zoonotic viruses. This gave her the the opportunity to update the students on the first results from her survey.

The students were very dedicated to the work both in the field and in the lab. They were assessed on how they could perform clinical examination of animals, sample collection, and laboratory analysis. In addition, they were asked more theoretical questions on normal values of physiologic parameters and on the protocols used for laboratory analyses or on diseases caused by the parasites they could identify.

All groups succeed in the final evaluation and received a certificate of completion from Prof. Fongsamouth and a scoring attestation from Margot last week during a small ceremony. The FoA teachers, students and VWB staff all gave great speeches.We are looking forward to the next project where the same type of work will be done on more infrequent basis and in different locations, so that students still have the opportunity to get field experience.

Linda and Salongxay counting the rumen movement frequency on a cow

Soukanya and Khamxaixong counting the rumen movement frequency on a goat, while Prof Chantha assesses their technique:

Thitoudon and Namfon checking the color of mucosal membrane of a cow:

Seesuphan and Yeng Li practicing blood smears in the lab:

Manisa, Bounsom, Xayavanh and Kampasong checking the temperature of a young buffalo:

Mailar and Lattana examining the mouth of a goat:

Prof Fongsamouth giving Nouna her certificate:

Margot giving Sisouphan his score attestation:

Group picture with Vannaphone, Amphone, Maude, Margot, Prof Fongsamouth, Chantha, Bounthang, all the students with their certificates, Kampasong and Sisavath from left to right: